"So the sun is hot and burning............ then where is all the smoke and pollution going ? Also why is the smoke not visible. ?~~ Thanks "
-
Experimental Investigation of Prebiotic Organic Geochemistry in Hydrothermal Environments
PI: McCollom, Thomas
Hydrothermal environments have been proposed as locations of abiotic organic synthesis in the early solar system and as a possible site for the origin of life. Interpreting the role of hydrothermal systems in prebiotic chemistry leading to the emergence of life requires comprehensive knowledge of the thermal stability of biomolecules and reaction pathways for organic synthesis under hydrothermal conditions. The proposed research will investigate two aspects of the organic chemistry of hydrothermal environments through laboratory experiments. One set of experiments will evaluate the role of minerals on the reactivity of amino acids in geologic systems. Although there have been numerous previous studies of the decomposition of amino acids in hydrothermal solutions, none of these studies have included mineral reactants and the impact of minerals on reaction rates and pathways has never been evaluated. The proposed research will complete a study of the hydrothermal reactivity of the amino acid norvaline in the presence of minerals begun under a prior Exobiology grant, and then extend the research to investigate the behavior of aspartic acid and alanine. A second set of experiments will investigate the possible role of alkylthiols in abiotic carbon fixation and organic synthesis in sulfur-rich hydrothermal environments. The results of the experiments are expected to improve understanding of the chemical environment from which life emerged on Earth, and that might have supported origins of life elsewhere. In addition, the results will aid in interpreting the source of organic matter in meteorites and other rock samples.
